Randall Stephenson: Slow Android updates are Google's fault

Ask the average Android owner waiting for what seems like eons for the latest OS update, who is to blame for the long wait and most will throw everyone into the rant that follows. Manufacturers, carriers and Google get the finger pointed at them for what seems to be a very slow current update cycle for the green robot. This is an important subject because Android's main competitor, iOS, has had timely updates including the most recent iOS 5.1.1 which was released this week. Of course, Apple has the advantage as it has three current smartphone models to concern itself with compared with the larger number of Android handsets that all need to be considered for a large, wide spread update.

While Google's role in all of this appeared to be to provide an open-source software, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson seemingly put the blame for slow Android updates on the Mountain View based tech firm at the Milken Institute 2012 Global Conference. The executive responded to a question about slow Android updates by saying, "Google determines what platform gets the newest releases and when. A
lot of times, that’s a negotiated arrangement and that’s something we
work at hard. We know that’s important to our customers. That’s kind of
an ambiguous answer because I can’t give you a direct answer in this
setting."

Google's response was to say, "Watcha talkin' about Randall?" Well, they actually said more than that. Google said that they do not require negotiations before a handset is released. The latest release of Android is available at source.android.com after the first device based on the update is launched. Google does this to make sure that its latest Android build runs without errors on hardware that has been approved by manufacturers and regulators like the FCC.

"Mr. Stephenson’s carefully worded quote caught our attention and frankly
we don’t understand what he is referring to. Google does not have any
agreements in place that require a negotiation before a handset
launches. Google has always made the latest release of Android available
as open source at source.android.com as soon as the first device based
on it has launched. This way, we know the software runs error-free on
hardware that has been accepted and approved by manufacturers, operators
and regulatory agencies such as the FCC. We then release it to the
world."-Google's response to Randall Stephenson's comment

We would imagine that things will blow over because at the end of the day, Google does need AT&T and AT&T does need Google. Guys, kiss and make up so that we can move on.

44 Comments

Show comments:

Display mode:

This guy seriously peeves me off... It doesn't seem like he knows anything about Android and he's just spouting his mouth to get the blame off of AT&T. Get real man, you've got to approve the new software as soon as it's available and you'll have many more happy customers because of it. Don't blame it on Google.

Indeed, I received my new gsm Galaxy Nexus last Tuesday, within 5 minutes I was prompted to update my phone to version 4.04. Later that day I chuckled when I read that some VZW Galaxy nexus owners were beginning to receive the very same update. Updates to latest software is not apart of a carriers financial plan for success. I was instructed to use tier one support to solve people issues on their phones. After that urge them to call the insurance or upgrade. Why have the latest software available when you can have the customer can buy a new phone and get locked into a new two year agreement.

Did you expect a CEO like Randall Stephenson to tell the truth on this and say "Google released the source code months ago, then the OEMs took a month to make the source code work with the hardware on their phones, then released the that code to the carriers, and the carriers take three months to add their bloatware that no one wants on the phone and then turn it over to the custs if the phone is not deemed EOL with that carrier". The carriers are the biggest hold ups. Also the reason phones like the Inspire 4g won't get official ICS update yet the Desire HD will. To get the newest OS update stick with XDA.

Apple controls everything about the iPhone except the service, including the updates. In the case of the iphone, i think thats a good thing. Thats why iPhones have no bloatware. They do that with their computers too even with some third party programs like Java. Apple took its time pushing out the Java update and as a result, many Mac computers got hit with a virus.

Google controlled Android update and fix bugs will be approved by Google before the carrier can test and install new firmware update to customers handsets which is a long process compared to Apple single firmware update to single phone is 100x easier than Android handsets with too many different hard wares, sizes and shapes.

No, I have no reason to be mad. My advise was because he sounded silly. Not as silly as you, but silly none the less. If anyone should be mad it sould be the real Pauly D, because he has a wannabe jacking his name.

Judging by what he just said, maybe I do! It's obvious to everyone except this guy, a few misguided iOS fans and anyone else who didn't read the last few lines of this article that Google has nothing to do with updates after it released to the website.

Let me put in Apple user language for you...
Let's say you have an iPhone 4 but you are still running ios 4.2 and you want the latest update. The only problem is your cable/internet is down and you can't get a tech to come out for a month. Do you blame Apple because you can't update your phone, or the cable company for taking so long to fix you internet?

Taco, why do you even open your "mouth" and respond? Seriously. your life is a waste of oxygen.

TO Anyone that can not comprehend this shinding.

Googles ONLY responcibility (to non nexus phones) is to RELEASE the update to the internet. Nexus phones get a direct update. That is Googles ONLY responcibilty. If you belive anything this whiny CEO says over goog, your a tool bigger than taco.

Alright, while you're sticking with the phone with the on time updates, I'll stick with the phone with apps that run and doesn't crash, The RAZR. My Itouch (64gb 4th) has been laggy as hell since I updated, they call this fixing it?!?!?

Yes, Apple's on time updates give you bug fixes, but the rare times Android get updates it's for more functions or more efficient way of running functions. I don't know about an idiot like you, but I'd rather have a good OS that gets one update a year to add more functions than have a s**tty OS that gets 10 updates a week to fix minor bugs.

PS. i gave u a pity thumbs since I missed the thumbs down...but I'll leave that to the others to thumb u down.

* Some comments have been hidden, because they don't meet the discussions rules.

All content (phone reviews, news, specs, info), design and layouts are Copyright 2001-2016 phoneArena.com. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part or in any form or medium without written permission is prohibited! Privacy . Terms of use . Cookies . Team